Public Policy Work

THE POWER TO SAVE LIVES THROUGH STATE POLICY CHANGE IS YOURS

Suicide a preventable cause of death. The steps we take to spread this message – and build it into systems and communities – can lessen its toll.

Our approach to policy and systems change enlists lawmakers, state agencies, the private sector and community partners in developing and implementing sustainable solutions. Forefront has been instrumental in the passage of nine bills in Washington related to suicide prevention, including the first state law in the nation requiring suicide prevention training for all health and behavioral health providers.

Forefront Suicide Prevention’s greatest fortune is its partnership with Rep. Tina Orwall, District 33. Orwall and Forefront bring together and collaborate with diverse partners. This coalition building takes hard work and often brings success. Many meetings, conference calls, emails to legislators, and other examples of constituent advocacy go into each suicide prevention bill.

Access Forefront’s Legislative Toolkit here. 

 

LEGISLATIVE MILESTONES: FOREFRONT SUICIDE PREVENTION

House Bill 1477

Implementing the national 988 system to enhance and expand behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention services.


Read Final Bill Report.

House Bill 2411

Provides advanced suicide prevention training requirements for mental health professionals; adds a one-time training requirement for optometrists, acupuncturists, Eastern medicine practitioners, veterinarians; adds creation of training for construction industry.


Read Final Bill Report.

Senate Bill 6570 Concerning law enforcement officer mental health and wellness.
Read Final Bill Report.

House Bill 1109

Safer Homes, Suicide Aware coalition funding for 2020 and 2021 was provided to continue work established in House Bill 1612.

Read Final Bill Report.

Senate Bill 6514

Concerning suicide prevention and behavioral health in higher education, with enhanced services to student veterans.

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Senate Bill 5552

Concerning firearms sales and transfers.

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House Bill 1612

Implementing a Suicide-Safer Homes public education platform: Establishing a public-private partnership fund to implement the work of the Safer-Homes task force.

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House Bill 2793

Providing for suicide awareness and prevention education for safer homes.

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House Bill 1138

Creating a task force on mental health and suicide prevention in higher education. As a result of this law, the Task Force on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Higher Education gathered data about suicide prevention efforts and the amount of suicidal behavior on campuses, preparatory to recommending more comprehensive ways to keep students safer from suicide.

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House Bill 1424

Ensures that all suicide prevention training for health care professionals will cover issues specific to military veterans, and skills to assess suicidal individuals' access to lethal means.

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House Bill 2315

Concerning training health care professionals in suicide assessment, management and treatment. Extended the HB 2366 training requirement to include mandated suicide prevention training for health care professionals.

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House Bill 1336

Increasing the capacity of school districts to recognize and respond to youth at-risk for suicide, and to build awareness for students who may be struggling with mental health issues that may lead to attempted suicide.

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House Bill 2366

Washington State passed ESHB 2366, otherwise known as the Matt Adler Suicide Assessment, Treatment, and Management Act of 2012. ESHB 2366 is the first law in the nation to require certain health professionals to obtain continuing education in the assessment, treatment, and management of suicide risk as a requirement of licensure.

Read Final Bill Report